@xurbanranger1x Some people do not understand the "open sandbox where anything can happen" style of game play. SoT does need work, but even on launch it had the open sandbox down. I have had and continue to have massive adventures in this game. Adventures that I create, not something that has a singular focus.
You say there is no point to PvP, but the fact is the reward is the adventure and fun, the test of skills and combination of ship to ship combat along with direct hand to hand PvP. If you are looking for loot, then go do PvE. PvP is for the adventure, the risk/reward while knowing the only reward might be simply besting another pirate.
You say the PvE is bad, but PvE today is more exciting and rewarding than at any other time in SoT. From Skelly ships, kraken and meg, to the normal grind stuff and even to Skelly fort, there is something for everyone. I play 4-6 hours everyday. And while I generally feel like I have had fun, I can honestly say that every couple of weeks I am able to say, I just had the absolute best gaming session, or gaming weekend ever, all in SoT.
The success of the game is off the charts right now. Yes, the dev's are coming out with Arena mode. That was not to attract more people, though it surely will, it was in response to many cries from the PvP community that said what you say, there is no reward. So, SoT is coming out with Arena, what looks like will be a PvPvE mode of the game where everyone has to find and turn in the same loot, creating very close quarters that will surely encourage PvP to happen. The PvP crowd complained that SoT wasn't doing enough to create more PvP opportunities, so Rare responded by making a new mode which will surely give plenty of PvP opportunities.
When the game first came out, most streamers and many others that tried the game left, because of a lack of content. But Rare was already at work on several content additions, and boy did they come out with some awesome additions. From Skelly Kegs, to Skelly ships and CCB's, they continue to come out with amazing ideas. Some of which go directly against what the dev team had in mind for the game when they created it, such as skelly ships.
I do understand wanting to have a base and hoard loot, but that simply is not the design behind SoT. Who knows what the future might bring though. I am sure that we all would love to have our own cave with tons of shiny things, but for now we have cosmetics and gold.
As for your final statement about two choices in game, I think you are missing something. Each time I start a game, I have no real plan. In fact, my first mate and I discuss it while stocking our ship, and usually we decide lets drop an Athena, but that does not mean that we are actually going to do the Athena. Even if we start to work on the Athena, we let the game come to us organically. This means, if we see a skelly ship, we usually go out and get it, a meg pops up, drop that anchor and lets have a go, kraken, raise sails and go for the kill. Another player ship, we decide on the fly. Do we engage them and see if they are friendly or foe, or do we keep our distance. Honestly, it is all up to what our mood is that day. But my point is, there is nothing in this game that punishes you for simply going around and doing whatever you want, so long as you stick to the pirate code.
I would also add that generally, the company you keep is a very large part of that experience and influences how great of a time you have or don't have. I have fun playing solo, loving the challenge and do it often, but I prefer to be with my best mate and even others. Just more fun that way.
The point of SoT is you, yes you, create your own adventure. You don't follow a script, or plan, you just go and create your own adventure.